AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-195
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*** 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting ***
*** October 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia ***
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ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a
worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in
designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital
Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org
In this edition:
* 2008 AMSAT North America Space Symposium
* AO-51 Operations Update
* KiwiSAT Progress Report
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
* ARISS Status - 07 July 2008
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-195.01
2008 AMSAT North America Space Symposium
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 195.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-195.01
2008 AMSAT North America Space Symposium
24-26 October 2008, Atlanta, Georgia Call for Papers:
This is the call for papers for the 2008 AMSAT Space
Symposium and Annual Meeting to be held October 24-26, 2008
in Atlanta, Georgia.
Proposals for papers, symposium presentations, and poster
presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the
amateur satellite program. An emphasis for this year is an
educational outreach to middle and high school students.
Another topic if interest is using amateur satellite
tracking systems to monitor deep space network objects.
In particular, papers on the following topics are solicited:
+ Students & Education
+ ARISS
+ AO-51
+ P3E
+ Eagle
+ Deep Space Network monitoring
+ Any additional satellite-related topics.
We request a one-page abstract as soon as possible. Camera
ready copy on paper or in electronic form will be due by
September 1, 2008 for inclusion in the printed symposium
proceedings. Papers received after this date may not be
included in the printed proceedings.
Abstracts and papers should be sent to n8fgv at amsat.org
[ANS thanks Robin, AA4RC and the 2008 Symposium Committee
for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-195.02
AO-51 Operations Update
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 195.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-195.02
Gould, WA4SXM, AO-51 command station noted this week that the
transmitter power on AO-51 has been down due to the length of
eclipse that peaked about 2 weeks ago. AO-51 eclipse periods
will continue to get shorter until September when we will see
a no eclipse period for about 8 months.
Gould has been testing the charge/discharge rate. If any of
the transmitters are off or have changed he reminds users to
the status message on the digital downlink.
At present AO-51 is operating TXA at 430 mW (digital downlink)
and TXB at 470 mW (analog downlink). During the peak of the
eclipse periods both transmitters were operating in the 340 mW
range.
[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-195.03
KiwiSAT Progress Report
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 195.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-195.03
Progress report - June 2008
by Fred Kennedy ZL1BYP  KiwiSAT Project Leader
Just before the Christmas period a very successful funding appeal was launched
on the <amsat-bb> by AMSAT-ZL President  Terry
(ZL3QL) and I note with pleasure
that the build fund swelled to 30% of the $10k
target in a very short time. This
is a brilliant response that boosts not only the
financial resource but also the
morale of the team! Believe me, building a bird is "mega" hard work (ask those
that have done it before) and support from the
eventual benefactors is very well
received. The feeling that its all worth while is restored  at least for a
while!
In addition to the actual cash donations we also have a number individuals
offering to sponsor a specific item  as did we (AMSAT-ZL) in the pre launch
build-up for Phase 3D. Doing that provides a
personal input to the project and
were looking into suitable identifiable sub-units.
In the last Status Report mention was made of the Solar Cell problems faced by
the team. VERY recent events have, however, meant that this is no longer an
impediment to progress!
A very thorough update of each of the satellite's
subsystems is available at the
AMSAT-ZL website
http://www.kiwisat.org.nz/status.html
[ANS thanks Fred, Zl1BYP, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-195.04
Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 195.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-195.04
+ Reminder! Sunday is/was your last chance to e-mail your satellite
operating logs from Field Day to Bruce, KK5DO. You may send
them to kk5do at amsat.org or kk5do at arrl.net. The AMSAT Field Day
rules can be found at: http://www.amsatnet.com/2008fd.pdf or
http://www.amsatnet.com/2008fd.doc. Your entry is due by
11:59 P.M. CDT, Monday, July 14, 2008.
+ Peter, DB2OS uploaded full-length videos about the integration
and launch of OSCAR-10 OSCAR-13 at:
http://en.sevenload.com/search/amsat/videos
There is also a video from the SDX demonstration from HamRadio 2008
in Friedrichshafen.
+ Robert, W6RQR is looking for other satellite operators in New Mexico
to help with a Satellite Forum at the Albuquerque Hamfest August 15
& 16. Contact Robert via rlasso (at)zianet.com if you can help.
+ AMSAT-UK will be holding their 23rd International Space Colloquium
at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from Friday 25th
until Sunday 27th July. See: http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/
for the latest information.
[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-195.05
ARISS Status - 07 July 2008
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 195.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
July 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-195.05
1. Upcoming School Contacts
An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been
scheduled with the Department of Astronomy &
Space Sciences (DASS) at the Kuwait
Science Club in Safat, Kuwait on Monday, July 14 at 17:05 UTC. Telebridge
station WH6PN in Hawaii will assist with the contact. DASS aims to spread
scientific awareness in the fields of astronomy and space sciences by actively
engaging the public in exploring the cosmos. This educational activity will
educate young people about space stations, satellites and ham radio. A national
competition will be announced through the Ministry of Education for all schools
in Kuwait. The competition will encourage students to do research in space
science. Four students will be selected from 3 levels (elementary, middle, high
school) to ask questions of the astronaut. Extensive media coverage is expected
from at least 3 television stations, several newspapers, magazines and radio
stations.
2. Simulated Contacts Successful
Two simulated Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contacts
were held on Thursday, July 3. The training sessions were terrestrial-based
amateur radio contacts using ARISS-equivalent
equipment. Frank De Winne, ON1DWN,
participated in the first contact with ESC (Euro Space Camp) in Belgium. The
second contact took place between the Ottawa South United Soccer Club in Canada
and astronaut Bob Thirsk, W5/VA3CSA. There was IRLP coverage of both contacts.
3. Successful ARISS Contact with Texan Scouts
On Friday, July 4, Round Rock Texas Scout Pack #304 and Blackland Prairie
Elementary School in Round Rock, Texas participated in a successful Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Ten Scouts asked
nearly twenty questions of Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, before an audience of 100.
Two broadcast television stations and one local cable news outlet reported on
the event. To view the Fox video, see:
http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6915557&version=1&
locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1
News 8 Austin also ran an article:
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=213480
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's
Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project
Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are
available from the AMSAT Office.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org